Death Valley has dozens of abandoned cabins within its borders, in various states of disrepair. Our group typically sees two cabins per week, which is way more than the average visitor sees. We’ve spent the past couple of work camping trips cleaning up trash and piping from around a couple of these cabins. Many of the cabins have names, sometimes relating to the last person who inhabited the cabin, and sometimes for an unknown reason. We’ve been to Weston Cabin, Rita’s Cabin, Madeline’s Cabin, Rebecca’s Cabin, Claire Camp, Hunter Cabin, and many more that are related to mining that I didn’t catch the name of.
Aside from tetanus and dehydration, our biggest health worry on these work trips near the cabins is Hantavirus. It’s spread by inhaling dust from rodent droppings, which are abundant in cabins. Luckily, there has not yet been any death linked to the Hantavirus in Death Valley. Unluckily, there is no cure. All Hanta worry aside though, it’s been exciting the explore the cabins, with our mouths and noses covered. It’s fun to imagine what kinds of characters decades ago decided to build a ramshackle home in the rough desert and live in total seclusion. I tip my NPS Volunteer hat to them for trying to make it work for at least a little while. But still, did they have to leave so much trash?
Here we are with all the junk we backpacked up from the Weston Cabin. Lots of piping, propane bottles, magazines, and even a couple of chainsaws in fair condition!
No comments:
Post a Comment